Louise Stone led Lexis’ healthcare team for three years, before leaving in August. She previously had stints at Ketchum Pleon, JCPR and Nexus Communications, working on health and consumer lifestyle accounts including Procter & Gamble, Nestlé, GlaxoSmithKline and Reckitt Benckiser.

Road’s focus has traditionally been with pharma clients, which currently include Pfizer, Beiersdorf, SCA International and a recently won brief from Anglian Pharma.

In a newly created director role, Stone has been asked to expand Road’s consumer health business, including its client base with over-the-counter, beauty, and food and nutrition clients.

Stone will report to Road Communications’ MD Paul Jarman, who told PRWeek: ‘Louise’s mission is to further accelerate the growth of the business and expand our client base in OTC and consumer health.’

During her time at Lexis, Stone led several large consumer accounts, including its seven-figure Boots contract, which was lost to The Red Consultancy in September.

Stone said she would build on Road’s patient engagement programmes with pharmaceutical clients to help add value to consumer clients and campaigns.

She added: ‘In pharma, compliance is obviously key to effective treatment, but it’s an approach that is also highly relevant for consumer brands. Engaged, informed and motivated customers are more likely to use products correctly, achieve better results and recommend the brand.’